High-tension-switch mechanism



Ma 13, 1930. c, G, Koppnz 1,758,751

HIGH TENSION SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1110: nap

May 13, 1930.

c G. KOPPITZ HIGJ-I TENSION SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vlay' 13, 1930.

C. G. KOPPITZ HIGH TENSION SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Feb 5,'1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gnmntoua Patented May 313, TQEQ tantra stares CARL Gr. KOJPPITZ, 01F GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF GREENSB'URG, PENNSYLVANIA, A GOR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA HIGE-TENSION-SWITCH MECHANISM Application filed February 5, 1929. Serial No. 337,675.

The present invention relates to high tension switch mechanism, and more particularly to a type of switch construction which i. is adapted for direct exposure to atmospheric conditions.

The method employed for introducing the movable element into the switch jaws and thereafter rotating the same to secure a high contact. pressure is similar to the method employed in the switch construction described in my prior Patent, No. 1,560,998, November 10, 1924. In my prior patent I have described a contact element which is of noncircular transverse cross-section and which is held in inclined position during the introduction of the non-circular element into the space between the switch jaws, the final closing movement of the swith effecting the rotation of the non-circular element to bring its major dimension transversely of the switch aws. I 1 An object of the invention is to provide a simple, 'relative1y inexpensive and eflicient construction for effecting the translatory and rotary motion of a flattened contacting element.

For a full disclosure of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, with portions in section, of a contact element and the associated mechanism. 1

Fig. 2' is a fragmentary end elevation of the switch jaws and flattened contact member, the position of the contact element at the end of its translatory motion being shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a double break switch embodylng the invention,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a self-grounding disconnecting switch embodying the invention,

Fig. 6 is a bottom elevatlon of the same, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation as viewed from the left of Fig. 5. p

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates the non-circular or flattened contact element which is carried at the end of a rocker arm 2, the latter being journaled in appropriate operating mechanism which is here shown as the end of a tubular operating arm 3.

As shown in Fig. 2, the contact element 1 has the general form of ablade with enlarged or thickened peripheral edges, but it will be apparent from the following description that the transverse cross-section of the contact element is subject to wide variation. The term flattened contact element or non-circular contact element includes all forms of contact elements having such transverse cross-section that the width of the projection of the element upon a plane normal to its path of movement varies with the angular adjustment of the element about its longitu dinal axis.

The end 4 of the rocker arm is retained within the end of the blade 3 by a transverse pin 5 which is locked in place by the retaining wire 6. The end 4 is slotted to permit a limited angular movement of the rocker arm about the axis of the blade 3 and a torsion spring 7 is provided for normally retaining the rocker arm 2 at one end of its range of angular movement. The outer end of the spring 7 is seated in a socket in the tubular extension 4 of the rocker arm and the inner end of the spring is secured to the arm 3 by means of a member 8. The member 8 has oppositely arranged lugs which are clamped against the inner wall of the tubular blade 3 by screws 9 and current-carrying jumpers 10 of the usual wire cloth type extend between the member 8 and the extension of the rocker arm.

The rocker arm 2 is provided with a semicylindrical bearing member 11, whose axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the contact element 1.

The general method of operation of the above described type of switch blade will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 2. The switch jaws comprise a pair of spaced contact members 12 carried by parallel spring arms 13, which are secured to the insulator column 14by any suitable form of base construction 15.

- The stop 16 projects from'base 15 and is depend.

provided at its outer end 17 with a cylindrical recess for cooperation with the cylindrical surface of the bearing member 11 of the rocker arm.

To close the switch, the switch blade 3 moves in the horizontal plane of, and in the direction of thearrow a to introduce the contact element 1 within the space between theswitch jaws 12. As indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the spring 7 normally operates to position the rocker arm 2 in such angular relationship to the switch blade 3- that the flattened contact elementl isinclined to the path of movement of its axis. edges of the contact element 1 need not, and preferably do not engage with the contact members 12 as the element is moved into position between the switch jaws. The translatory motion of the contact element 1 is arrested when the cylindrical bearing 11 of the rocker arm 2 engages with the end surface 17 of the stop member 16. .At this moment, however, the blade 3 has not reached the limit of its movement. The continued movement of the switch blade 3 carries the end 4 of arm 2toward the right and rotates the flattened contact element into position transversely of the switch jaws.

As described in my prior patent, the contact members12 are preferably of relatively small width and the high contact pressure which is essential if the switch is to carry heavy currents is obtained by making the normal spacing of the contact members 12 somewhat less than the width of the contact element 1. Although the spring arms 13 will exert a heavy pressure tending to prevent rotation of the contact element 1, the pressure operates upon a short lever arm and the operating mechanism may be appropriately designed to secure the necessary mechanical advanta e.

Tn igs. 3 and a the invention is illustrated as embodied in a double break switch of the upright mounting type. The insulator column 18 is mounted upon a suitable support 19 for rotation about its own axis and at its upper end it carries a pipe or tubular member 20 which has rocker arms 21 mounted in the opposite ends thereof. The stationary insulator columns 22 are provided with contact aws 23 and with stop members 24; which limit the translatory motion of the rocker arms 21 and the contact elements 25 which are carried thereby.

The self-grounding switch shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is of the inverted mounting type and comprises a suitable bearing structure 26 from which the stationary insulator column 27 and the rotating insulator column 28 The grounding switch jaws 29 are supported from the structure 26 by a column 30 and are preferably so spaced from the line be rotated approximately a quarter revolu- The peripheraltion to carry the switch blade 32 from closed to grounding position. v

The rocker arm 32 carries two contact. elements 33, 34, which are for engagement with the contact jaws 31 and 29, respectively. As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, the blade 32 travels in a horizontal plane midway between the planes of the two switch jaws, and therefore the same angular rotation of the rocker arm 32 is efiected when either of the cooperating pairs of contacts are closed.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, suitable hoods 35, 36 may be provided to protect the contacts 31, 29, respectively, from snow and ice.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments which are described above, since various forms of operating mechanisms may be employed for efi'ecting that desired angular movement of a flattened contact element which is illustrated in Fig. 2.

I claim:

1. In a switch of the high contact pressure type, the combination with switch jaws and a flattened contact element, of operating mechanism for moving said element into and away from said jaws, means on said mechanism providing a pivotal support for said flattened element, yielding means retaining said element in such angular relation to said mechanism that said element is inclined to said jaws when moved into the same by said mechanism, and means cooperating with said mechanism to rotate said flattened element on said pivotal supporting means at the end of the closing motion and beginning of the opening motion of said operating mechanism.

, 2. In a switch of the high pressure type, the combination with switch jaws and a flattened contact element, of operating mechanism, an arm carrying said flattened contact element and substantially normal to the axis thereof, means pivotally mounting said arm on said operating mechanism for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said contact element, yielding means normally positioning said arm to present said contact element in inclined position as the latter is moved by said operating mechanism into the space between said jaws, and means cooperating with said operating mechanism and efi ective after'said element is positioned within said jaws to rotate said armon said operating mechanism, whereby said flattened contact element is turned to present its maximum dimension transversely of said jaws.

3. In a switch of the high contact pressure type, a rocker arm carrying at one end thereof a flattened contact element, means pivotally supporting the other end of said rocker arm and operable to move said contact element into and away from switch jaws, and yielding means normally positioning said rocker arm to present said contact element'in inchned position as said pivotal supporting means moves said element into the space between said jaws.

4. In a switch of the type stated, a switch blade comprising a translatable portion having a flattened contact element pivotallymounted thereon for rocking movement about the axis of the blade, yielding means normally positioning said contact arm with the flattened portion thereof inclined to its path of movement, and means for rocking said element to position the same transversely of saidmally positioning said rocker arm to present said flattened contact member in inclined position to its path of movement into the space between said jaws, and operating means for actuating said supporting means to move said contact into position within said jaws and to thereafter eflect angular movement of said rocker arm with respect to said supporting means to rotate said flattened contact element within said jaws.

6. In a switch of the type stated, switch jaws, a switch blade and means providing a pivotal support therefor, a rocker arm carried by the end ofsaid blade and revoluble about the axis of said blade, a noncircular contact element on said arm, yielding means so posi-- tioning said element that its projection upon a plane normal to its path of movement is less than its major transverse dimension, and stop mechanism for arresting the movement of said element when introduced into the space between said jaws, whereby the continued movement of said switch blade will effect rocking movement of said rocker arm to present the major dimension of said element transversely of said jaws.

7. In a switch, contact jaws, a fiattenedcontact element, means supporting said element for movement into and away from said jaws,

. spring means normally positioning said flattened contact member at an angle to its path of movement, and operating means eifectlve to move said supporting means to position said element between said jaws, and effective upon further operation thereof to turn said element into position substantially transverse of said jaws.

8. In a high contact pressure switch, a contact member comprising a rocker arm provided with'means for pivotally supporting the same upon an actuating element. and with a flattened contact element.

' 9. In a switch of the high contact pressure 7 flattened element extending substantially normal to said arm, and the plane of the major transverse dimension of said element being inclined to the path along which said axis is translated during opening and closing of said switch.

10. In a switch of the high pressure contact type, the combination with switch jaws, of a contact arm having at one end thereof a flattened contact element, means mounting said arm for angular movement with respect to said jaws to position said flattened element within said jaws and inclined to a plane passed transversely of said jaws, operating means for moving said arm to dispose said element in its said position within said jaws and for continuing the angular movement of said arm in the same direction to eflect relative rotation of said element within said jaws to dispose said flattened element transversely of said jaws.

11. In a switch of the high contact pressure type, a rocker arm carrying a pair of flattened contact elements, operating mechanism and means thereon pivotally supporting said rocker arm for angular movement about an axis parallel to the axes of said contact elements, two pairs of switch jaws and means supporting the said pairs of jaws in the respective paths of movement which they take when translated by said operating mechanism, and stop means associated with each jaw for arresting the translatory motion of I 

